Abstract The emergence of cheaper sequencing platforms and more widely applicable
genome editing techniques is empowering new model organisms to emerge in
the field of biomedical science. A promising branch of such organisms are the socalled
evolutionary mutant models. To be covered by this definition, an animal must
display phenotypes reminiscent of human pathologies, but these phenotypes must
be part of the animal’s natural condition. In other words, these animals are not considered
sick, but rather they have evolved disease-like traits as part of their strategy
to survive in the wild. The cavefish Astyanax mexicanus is such an animal species.
A. mexicanus displays many traits resembling a variety of human pathologies
including retinal degenerations, diabetes-like phenotypes, and even psychiatric diseases.
The study of evolutionary mutant models, such as the cavefish, promises to
provide important new insights into human pathologies by offering a different perspective
compared to the classical model systems. Here, I introduce the cavefish
model system Astyanax mexicanus to the reader and provide an overview of the
latest efforts to establish this species as a valid member of animal models that are
successfully used in biomedical research.
Keywords Cavefish · Astyanax mexicanus · Adaptation · Evolutionary mutant
models · Albinism · Blindness · Asymmetry · Autism · Sleep loss · Circadian
rhythm · Regeneration · Obesity